Design of stimuli-responsive gel systems

On-demand drug delivery is highly sought after in a range of therapeutic applications. Gel formulations are an ideal vehicle here as it is possible to tune the rate of drug release from these systems using a variety of non-invasive stimuli. Dr Thakur’s laboratory has identified and developed gels with self healing properties which will show negligible release of entrapped molecules at their baseline, but will experience bursts of release upon application of relevant stimuli. The long term applicability of this strategy is now being investigated with a special interest in using the gels in tissue repair applications.